WASHINGTON — The Federal Trade Commission is alerting the public to online “task scams,” where scammers promise quick money for simple digital tasks. These scams often arrive via WhatsApp, Telegram, text, social media, or even AI-generated job advertisements. They promise earnings through commissions for activities like “optimization” or “product boosting,” but the money shown in the apps is fake.
Many people are exploring online side hustles or extra ways to earn, but scammers are taking advantage of this interest. They may pay small amounts initially, usually $5 to $20, to gain trust. Then they ask victims to deposit their own money, often in cryptocurrency, to unlock further tasks or withdraw supposed earnings. Those who comply lose their real money while the scammers profit.
The FTC advises people to ignore unexpected job messages, be skeptical of AI-generated job postings, never pay to earn money, and avoid anyone asking for positive reviews or online ratings. More information on spotting scams is available at ftc.gov/scams, and suspected scams can be reported at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
